The annual Alameda Fishing Derby proved to be a big hit, with more than 250 participants, and it was a particularly memorable day for members of one family.
The annual event was held Saturday at Grant Devine Lake. There were 203 adult entrants and 51 youth competitors. Participants were looking for the largest northern pike in the catch and release event.
The Alameda Recreation Board organized the derby.
Dean Kirby was the winner of the adult division with a fish that weighed 19.01 pounds. Devon Carriere was second at 17.13 pounds, and Aaron Lenius was third at 11.62 pounds. Steven Valentine (10.52 pounds), Jared Valentine (9.74 pounds) and Mike Lenius (8.84 pounds) were fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
Carriere had a 43-inch northern pike, which was the longest caught on the day. It was the second straight time Carriere had the longest fish.聽
Kirby鈥檚 daughter Landry was first in the junior division with a catch of 4.7 pounds, and his son Hunter Kirby was second at 3.08 pounds. Rounding out the top six were Talia Perrot in third (1.85 pounds), Gleason Hildebrand in fourth (1.29 pounds), Sayde Laurence in fifth聽 (1.28 pounds) and Ethen Brooks in sixth (1.19 pounds).
Competitors could bring in up to three fish to be weighed, but only the heaviest one counted.
鈥淭he number of fish was about average and there was some really nice fish caught,鈥� said Darin McNabb with the Alameda Recreation Board.
There was also an online silent auction as part of the derby that featured approximately 45 items. This year marked the first time they have opted for online bidding.
鈥淎 lot of people were competitively bidding against each other, and all of them have picked up their prize and paid their bill,鈥� said McNabb.
McNabb noted a lot of clubs have been very successful with the online auction during the past year, and the recreation board was pleased with the end result for their group.
Proceeds from the fishing derby will be directed to the Alameda Recreation Board, which is the umbrella organization for all of the community鈥檚 sports programs and facilities, such as the hockey and curling rinks and the ball diamonds, and any associated facilities in the community.
It was important to have the derby this year, since it was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fishing derby takes a couple of months of planning work from the organizing committee, and also requires the support of volunteers.
鈥淓very year we seem to find the people in the right places to make it work,鈥� said McNabb.
